Election watchdog fails to endorse group's leaders who won House seats
The red-shirt leadership yesterday warned the Election Commission of an angry backlash from the movement over its decision not to endorse any of its leaders who won places in the House of Representatives in the recent general election.
Thida Thawornseth, chairwoman of the movement, said the red shirts were "worried and dissatisfied" over the EC's decision.
She called on the red shirts to "keep your batteries full and get ready for action in any situation".
Thida described the EC's move as an attempt by the "ruling elite" to prevent the country emerging from its political crisis.
"I warn the network of the ammartayathippatai system not to shut down the country's exit [from the political crisis]. They should allow people to build up the country with their hands. Don't let people fall into the trap of disaster again," she said, using the movement's collective term for the elite groups that control the country.
"If the people's interest is destroyed again, [the red-shirt movement] is ready to protect it," she added.
Red-shirt leader Korkaew Pikulthong, one of the Pheu Thai Party's candidates failing to get EC endorsement, called on the agency to explain why it had not endorsed the poll victory of the party's top candidate, Yingluck Shinawatra, and 10 other party candidates.
"I am worried that people may feel that the EC is trying to drag its feet about endorsing the MPs-elect. Red-shirt people may take to the streets and protest," he said.
He added that their supporters had "much concern" about the red-shirt leaders being elected as party-list MPs but not being endorsed by the election agency.
On Tuesday, while endorsing 358 MPs-elect after finding no complaints of electoral fraud, the EC resolved not to endorse the remaining 142 from many political parties, under both the party-list and constituency systems.
Included in the 142 are the red-shirt leaders among Pheu Thai's party-list candidates; Yingluck, who is expected to become the country's first female prime minister; and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is the outgoing PM.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday called on the EC to review its decision not to endorse the party's red-shirt candidates, pointing out that the agency had before the poll decided that all the party's 125 party-list candidates were qualified to contest the election.
He also said he suspected the complaint of electoral fraud against Yingluck was aimed at delaying the formation of a Pheu Thai-led government.
Yingluck is accused of allowing banned politician Thaksin Shinawatra, who is her brother, to influence her party's election campaigning, while Abhisit is accused of abusing government policies in his party's poll campaign, according to election officials.
At the Pheu Thai headquarters, Yingluck yesterday said she was hopeful the EC would ensure justice for her and the party.
"I don't know exactly the nature of the complaint against me, but I am sure that I can explain [matters]," she said.
Abhisit yesterday said he was not worried about the EC's decision not to endorse him, adding that he was ready to offer an explanation.
He said he did not know the details of the complaints against him. "But I am sure that I did not break any law."
The outgoing prime minister, commenting on the warning by red-shirt leaders of a backlash against the EC, said: "Politicians should no longer use their supporters to pressure for what they want. Otherwise, problems will [continue to] exist in this country. The EC has to be firm about its judgement."
Meanwhile, veteran politician Banharn Silapa-archa called on the election watchdog to endorse most of the MPs-elect to allow the new House of Representatives to convene its first session within 30 days. The House could then elect the new prime minister so that a new government could be formed.
He said the EC could later petition with the court for disqualification of any MPs found afterwards to have won their seats dishonestly.
Under the Constitution, a new House of Representatives cannot convene its first session unless at least 95 per cent of the MPs-elect, or 475 members, are officially endorsed.
Banharn is the chief adviser to the Chart Thai Pattana Party, a partner in the current Democrat-led coalition. The party will become a key partner in a Pheu Thai-led coalition.
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